Exodus 25:3-7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 25:1-9

We may suppose that when Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and abode there so long, where the holy angels attended the shechinah, or divine Majesty, he saw and heard very glorious things relating to the upper world, but they were things which it was not lawful nor possible to utter; and therefore, in the records he kept of the transactions there, he says nothing to satisfy the curiosity of those who would intrude into the things which they have not seen, but writes that only which he was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:3

And this is the offering which ye shall take of them ,.... That is, some one or other of the following things were to be taken of each of them that had a heart, and it was in the power of their hands to give; it was not expected that something of each of these should be had of everyone, but every man was to give, and it was to be received of him, what of these would suit him best to bestow, some one thing, some another, as they were possessed of, and had a heart to give; and for which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:4

And blue, and purple, and scarlet ,.... The Jewish doctors are much divided about the sense of the words so rendered by us; some will have one colour, and some another meant; but, according to those learned men, who have taken much pains in searching into the meaning of them, as Bochart and Braunius, it appears that our version of them is most correct: and by these we are not to understand the colours themselves, which could not be brought, nor even the materials for dying them are intended;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:5

And rams' skins died red ,.... Of these were made a covering for the tent or tabernacle: and badgers' skins , which were for the same use: the Septuagint version calls them hyacinth or blue skins; according to which, they seem to be the rams' skins died blue; and so Josephus F2 Ut supra. (Antiq. l. 3. c. 6. sect. 1.) seems to have understood it; and it is much questionable whether the same creature is meant we call the badger, since that with the Israelites was an unclean creature;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:6

Oil for the light ,.... For the light of the lamps in the candlestick: this was oil olive, as the Targum of Jonathan, and so Jarchi, see Exodus 27:20 , spices for anointing oil ; for the anointing of Aaron and his sons, and the tabernacle and its vessels, such as pure myrrh, sweet cinnamon, sweet calamus, and cassia: and for sweet incense ; as stacte, onycha, and galbanum; from whence they had this oil and these spices, it is not easy to say, unless they brought them out of Egypt... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 25:7

Onyx stones ,.... So called from their likeness to the nail of a man's finger: the Targum of Onkelos calls them stones of beryl; and the Targum of Jonathan gems of beryl; and the Septuagint version, stones of sardius; and some take them to be the sardonyx stones, which have a likeness both to the onyx and to the sardius: and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate ; two onyx stones were set in the ephod, one of the garments of the high priest, and an onyx stone, with eleven... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 25:3

This is the offering - There were three kinds of metals: 1. Gold, זהב zahab , which may properly signify wrought gold; what was bright and resplendent, as the word implies. In Job 28:15 , Job 28:16 , Job 28:17 , Job 28:19 , gold is mentioned five times, and four of the words are different in the original. סגור Segor , from סגר sagar , to shut up; gold in the mine, or shut up in its ore. כתם Kethem , from כתם catham , to sign, seal, or stamp; gold made... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 25:4

Blue - תכלת techeleth , generally supposed to mean an azure or sky color; rendered by the Septuagint ὑακινθον , and by the Vulgate hyacinthum , a sky-blue or deep violet. Purple - ארגמן argaman , a very precious color, extracted from the purpura or murex, a species of shell-fish, from which it is supposed the famous Tyrian purple came, so costly, and so much celebrated in antiquity. See this largely described, and the manner of dyeing it, in Pliny, Hist. Nat., lib. ix., c.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 25:5

Rams' skins dyed red - מאדמים אילם ערת oroth eylim meoddamim , literally, the skins of red rams. It is a fact attested by many respectable travelers, that in the Levant sheep are often to be met with that have red or violet-coloured fleeces. And almost all ancient writers speak of the same thing. Homer describes the rams of Polyphemus as having a violet-coloured fleece. Αρσενες οΐες ησαν εΰτρεφεες, δασυμαλλοι,<-144 Καλοι τε, μεγαλοι τε, ιοδνεφες ειρος εχοντες . Odyss.,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 25:6

Oil for the light - This they must have brought with them from Egypt, for they could not get any in the wilderness where there were no olives; but it is likely that this and some other directions refer more to what was to be done when in their fixed and settled residence, than while wandering in the wilderness. Spices - To make a confection for sweet incense, abounded in different parts of these countries. read more

Group of Brands